Syndication

Tucson Bead Shows 2012, Day One!

I was so excited to head to Tucson, Arizona this year for my
first-ever experience at the gem, mineral and bead shows! Because it
takes me nearly seventeen hours (that's right - seventeen hours!) to get
to Tucson from my home in upstate New York, I arrived very late on a
Wednesday night and went straight to bed.

The view from the balcony at the Swarovski showroom in Tucson, 2012.

It was good luck the next morning that I bumped into former Beading
Daily online editor Leslie Rogalski at the breakfast buffet in the hotel
the following morning. She invited me to head over to the Swarovski
showroom with her and another former online editor, Kristal Wick! (Talk
about a photo op!) After breakfast, the three of us headed to the Westin
La Paloma, a gorgeous resort on the outskirts of Tucson.

I was so thrilled to meet so many great people at the Swarovski
showroom. Not only did I get a chance to chat with some wonderful
Beading Daily readers, but I met Pat Resienberger, Sandra Lupo and Brenda Schweder, and I finally had the chance to meet Stephanie Dixon! Stephanie lives pretty close to my part of the world in Toronto, Canada, so I thought it was ironic that the first time we met it was two thousand miles from home in Tucson, Arizona. She gifted me with an incredible crystal and silver wire ring that I've worn every day since then.

The amazing, funny and talented Stephanie Dixon with an equally funny and talented student!

Stephanie also had a man in one of her beading classes! I had, unknowingly, been chatting with his wife in the corridor outside the classroom, and I was absolutely delighted to meet both of them. Let's face it, it's not every day that you see a man making a sparkly pink and purple crystal wire bracelet.

My stash of bead and jewelry-making treasures from the Beadin' Path at The Whole Bead Show.

Then it was off to The Whole Bead Show with Melinda Barta and Danielle Fox where we hunted for beads. I didn't get too far, since I got hung up over at the Beadin' Path and blew a chunk of my bead shopping budget on vintage Lucite beads and cabochons, vintage brass charms, vintage Czech glass pearls, leather flowers and a couple of amazing copper neck collars.

Once I was finished shopping and sat down, I realized that the jet lag was about to win and I was ready to fall asleep all over again. I got a ride back to the hotel where I indulged in a short nap and then got up and ready to head out to the Interweave party!

At the party, I got to chat some more with some of the lovely ladies from the Beadin' Path as well as bead artist Maggie Meister and Jewelry Making Daily's Tammy Jones! Meeting Tammy in person was such a treat after the last nine months of funny emails and phone calls. We found out that we have quite a bit in common when it comes to our pearl addictions.

There was so much friendly, creative energy flowing in that room that I wanted to stay longer, but once again, the jet lag won out, and I had to head back to the hotel for an early night.

Good thing, too, since I had big plans for some bead shopping the next day!